MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH SHOOTING OF NORTHERN IRELAND DETECTIVE JOHN CALDWELL
A man has been arrested in connection with a claim of responsibility by the New IRA for the shooting of senior detective John Caldwell in Northen Ireland.
The senior PSNI officer was shot several times at a sports complex in Omagh, Co Tyrone, last month and remains critically ill in hospital.
The suspect was arrested in Londonderry on Saturday morning following the search of a property.
It comes after a typed message was posted on a wall in the city purportedly from the New IRA and claiming responsibility for Mr Caldwell's attempted murder.
Police have said the New IRA is the main line of inquiry in the investigation.
A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Detectives investigating the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell on February 22 have arrested a man in connection with the claim of responsibility following the attack.
'The man was arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
'He was arrested this morning, Saturday March 18, following the search of a property in Derry/Londonderry.
'He has been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.'
Police previously released new CCTV of a blue Ford Fiesta they say was involved in the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector Caldwell.
Crimestoppers director of operations Mark Duthrie announced an increased reward at PSNI headquarters in Belfast on March 8 - two weeks to the day since the attack.
'We want those responsible for the shooting to be brought to justice,' he said.
'Through the generosity of anonymous donors from Northern Ireland we are now increasing our reward for information leading to arrest and conviction up to a total of £150,000.'
He said it was 'one of the highest rewards the charity has ever offered.'
The PSNI also revealed that detectives now believe a second vehicle is suspected to have been used to carry out the attack on Mr Caldwell.
Police previously appealed for information regarding a blue Ford Fiesta discovered at the end of February.
DCI Caldwell had been putting footballs in his car after coaching an under-15s team at Youth Sport Omagh when he was ambushed by the two masked men.
After they fired shots, the father ran a short distance before falling to the ground, where the pair continued to shoot at him as screaming children ran to safety.
The hero detective shouted 'run' to his son and children as he was gunned down.
The football club where the senior police officer was coaching young kids at the time he was shot joined a rally at the end of last month to condemn the violence.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Omagh to 'fight for a better future' and stand in solidarity with Mr Caldwell.
Police said they have arrested eight men, aged between 22 and 71. All have since been released following questioning, and the investigation continues.
Detective Chief Superintendent Corrigan added: 'We continue to treat this as terrorist-related and our primary line of enquiry is it has been carried out by the New IRA.'
Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Information, including photos, CCTV and dash-cam footage, can also be provided to police through the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI23S03-PO1
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